Seaside Squirrel is a small craft venture run by Lauren and based in West Cork, Ireland.
All the goods available on this site are handmade with love and created with the aim of encouraging sustainable habits. Here you will find a selection of accessories and home décor made with natural or repurposed materials, and herbal salves made from completely natural ingredients grown in West Cork.
Seaside Squirrel chooses to support small Irish retailers for all the materials used in the making of the products.
Handmade with the greatest attention to detail, Seaside Squirrel's range offers alternatives to disposable items, made with the best quality materials available on the local Irish market.
Nurtured in a little herb garden in West Cork, all the plants used in the making of the salves are cultivated using organic methods and harvested by hand at their peak of freshness. The petals are gathered mid-morning from newly opened spring and summer blooms and laid out flat on a cloth in a basket to dry; the leaves are picked in the spring and hung upside down in a bunch; and the roots are dug out in the winter, when the plants have died back and send all their energy down into their root, to be chopped into small pieces to dry.
The process of making salves is a labour a love. Once the herbs are dried, they are steeped in organic olive oil and infused in glass jars at a sunny windowsill for eight to ten weeks. The herbal infusions are stirred every day during that time, and the oils turn a colour reminiscent of the herb or the flower used: a vibrant orange for Calendula, a deep yellow for Dandelion, a light green, almost grey-like colour for Comfrey.
Making herbal salves the traditional way ensures that all the ingredients you put on your skin are completely natural. The oil infusions are strained by hand using a muslin cloth. Once clear of any herb debris, the oils are put on low heat over a pot of water and mixed with locally sourced beeswax. Because infusions have very little scent, a few drops of organic essential oil may be added to the mixture once it is fully melted, and the preparation is poured into little tins and left to set overnight in the fridge. The next day, a lush ointment that helps the skin regain its natural softness has replaced the oily mixture in the tins.
Nurtured in a little herb garden in West Cork, all the plants used in the making of the salves are cultivated using organic methods and harvested by hand at their peak of freshness. The petals are gathered mid-morning from newly opened spring and summer blooms and laid out flat on a cloth in a basket to dry; the leaves are picked in the spring and hung upside down in a bunch; and the roots are dug out in the winter, when the plants have died back and send all their energy down into their root, to be chopped into small pieces to dry.
VISIT
Herbal Skincare
The process of making salves is a labour a love. Once the herbs are dried, they are steeped in organic olive oil and infused in glass jars at a sunny windowsill for eight to ten weeks. The herbal infusions are stirred every day during that time, and the oils turn a colour reminiscent of the herb or the flower used: a vibrant orange for Calendula, a deep yellow for Dandelion, a light green, almost grey-like colour for Comfrey.
VISIT
Herbal Skincare
Making herbal salves the traditional way ensures that all the ingredients you put on your skin are completely natural. The oil infusions are strained by hand using a muslin cloth. Once clear of any herb debris, the oils are put on low heat over a pot of water and mixed with locally sourced beeswax. Because infusions have very little scent, a few drops of organic essential oil may be added to the mixture once it is fully melted, and the preparation is poured into little tins and left to set overnight in the fridge. The next day, a lush ointment that helps the skin regain its natural softness has replaced the oily mixture in the tins.
VISIT
Ethical Accessories
Handmade scarves, tote bags, little brooches and more.
Handmade with the greatest attention to detail, Seaside Squirrel's range offers alternatives to disposable items, made with the best quality materials available on the local Irish market.
Seaside Squirrel's accessories are made with natural cotton yarn and cotton fabric remnants, so you can treat yourself or a loved one knowing that you're doing good for the planet!
Love everything that Seaside Squirrel has to offer. Lauren couldn’t have been more helpful with colours and sizing. Highly recommend this great little business.
Anne S.
They are absolutely beautiful, I love the patterns. They were so comfortable, much lighter than I was expecting, I could hardly feel it on. I won't be going back to disposable pads, there is no comparison.
Noreen O'D.
Ordered the cloth pads and they are so beautiful and comfortable! I highly recommend them and will be purchasing a couple more in the future!
Aideen R.
This stuff is magic! My acne has almost entirely cleared since I've been applying this nightly. Haven't seen my skin so clear since I was a kid.
Jenny C.
The BEST pads EVER! I never found disposable pads comfortable. Initially I ordered a set of pads to support menstrual cup usage but they are so good that I started to use them without the cup!
Ewelina B.
Very neat stitching and tidy edges. They fit great and are really comfortable to wear. Would definitely buy more.
Isolda O'C.
I love your salves. They're the real deal!
Ewa G.
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